Picture of RSS Volunteers Saluting British Queen: Hoax

Story:

RSS workers gave British Queen guard of honour.

Other Versions

RSS Volunteers Saluting British Queen.

Analysis:

A black and white picture that went viral online through social networking websites, especially in India, came with the claim that a group of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) volunteers gave salute (guard of honour) to British Queen. The picture became so popular that even President of Mumbai Congress Committee, Sanjay Nirupam tweeted about it (in Hindi) on 18 Feb 2016 saying RSS Swayamsevaks were saluting British rulers and are trying to teach us patriotism (translated). However, what is shown in the picture is not a fact.

Original Picture of RSS volunteers without British QueenPicture of RSS Volunteers Saluting British Queen

The RSS volunteers seen in the picture are not saluting or giving guard of honour to any British Queen, or for that matter, the picture is not even black and white. As shown above, the picture of RSS volunteers is originally colored one (without British Queen), which was turned into black and white to give it a feel that it belonged to the colonial era. Then the picture of queen with a British officer was added to show as if she is receiving guard of honor from the RSS volunteers. Once this truth came into light, Preeti Gandhi, who calls herself as BJP Mahila Morcha member, has tweeted about it and asked Sanjay Nirupam to apologize for his comment.

So the picture story showing RSS workers gave guard of honour to British Queen is a hoax; the picture is nothing but a Photoshop creation.